What are the goals of Education That Is Multicultural and Achievement in Maryland?

Education That Is Multicultural and Achievement (ETMA) is a process which involves schools and communities working to fulfill the following goals:

To prepare students to live, learn, interact, work, and participate productively in our multicultural democratic society

To promote student achievement through the use of resources and classroom practices that reflect the diversity and commonalities of students, cultural groups, and communities

To provide pre-kindergarten through 12th grade curriculum and instruction that enable students to demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the contributions of cultural groups in Maryland, the United States, and the world

To foster respect for individuals regardless of diversity factors including but not limited to region, socio-economic status, race, disability, national origin, and gender

To eliminate achievement gaps related to diversity factors

What are the responsibilities of local school systems in implementing Education That Is Multicultural?

Each local school system in Maryland is required to address multicultural issues related to curriculum, instruction and staff development in their Bridge to Excellence Master Plans.Plans reflect the responsibilities outlined in Education That Is Multicultural Regulations adopted by the State Board of Education in 1994 (COMAR 13A.04.05).Local school systems submit annual progress reports on ETMA to the Maryland State Department of Education.

What types of programs are implemented in local school systems?

Examples of school system programs include expanding curriculum guidelines to reflect a greater depth of information about the contributions of diverse groups, offering educator training, courses and leadership programs for staff on multicultural education, establishing multicultural education resource centers for use by educators, and providing educational activities to promote intercultural understanding and to address bias, prejudice and harassment.

What resources and services does the Maryland State Department of Education provide?

The Maryland State Department of Education maintains a reference collection of multicultural books and audio-visual materials and has published and distributed to all public schools “Multicultural Connections,” an annotated multicultural resource directory for educators.Connections is also available online at www.marylandpublicschools.org

The Maryland State Department of Education reports progress to the State Board of Education and promotes an inclusive multicultural focus in state assessments, publications, and school improvement initiatives.

How are local school systems involved in the statewide implementation of Education That Is Multicultural and Achievement?

An Education That Multicultural and Achievement Network, comprised of representatives from all 24 local school systems, MSDE, and higher education meets monthly to share resources and programs, develop ETMA materials for use by schools and communities, and participate in professional development activities.

Where can I get more information about Education That Is Multicultural and Achievement?

Contact the MSDE Equity Assurance and Compliance Branch at 410-767-0425 or call your local school system central office for the name of the individual responsible for coordinating the implementation of Education That Is Multicultural.Information is also available through the “PROGRAMS” link on the MSDE website.